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All Blacks assistant coach Joe Schmidt is out of the race for the top job.
Joe Schmidt won’t apply for the All Blacks head coaching role.
Schmidt released a short statement on Saturday that also ruled out the possibility of him working with either Scott Robertson or Jamie Joseph, the leading candidates to succeed Ian Foster.
“I have really enjoyed being back on the grass coaching with the Blues and the All Blacks,” he said.
“I very much appreciate those opportunities, but presented with a condensed time frame this year, I won’t be applying for any coaching roles that extend beyond the Rugby World Cup.
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“In the shorter term, I will work hard to support the All Blacks in 2023.”
Schmidt joined the All Blacks as an assistant last year and won over senior players such as Aaron Smith, who credited him for his improved form in the second half of 2023.
It’s understood that timing and personal reasons were a significant factor in Schmidt’s decision, hence his reference to “a condensed time frame this year” in his statement.
Had the process occurred after the Rugby World Cup, Schmidt may well have applied after receiving significant encouragement to do so in the past week.
However, the 57-year-old – who is currently in the UK with Foster to watch the England v France and Scotland v Ireland tests this weekend and France v Wales the following weekend – ultimately decided the timing wasn’t right to put himself or his family through the rigorous selection process over the next month.
Schmidt’s call narrows the contest down to Robertson and Joseph, two strong candidates who offer different strengths and weaknesses.
The timing of the process has split opinion, with Foster heavily critical of it happening before the Rugby World Cup, while Robertson has been keen to get it over and done with to give certainty to not only the head coaching candidates, but the assistant coach and management teams they’ll bring with them.
THE BREAKDOWN/SKY SPORT
Former All Blacks captain thinks NZ Rugby should stop dithering and “appoint Razor” Robertson soon.
NZ Rugby chair Dame Patsy Reddy acknowledged earlier this month that noses would be put out of joint no matter what they did.
“We are all passionate about this, it is really important to the country, we understand that,” she said.
“And as I said, no timing is perfect here. We’ve got to weigh up the options and we’ve decided that making the decision now, having clarity, getting it behind us so we can focus on the current team and management and coaching staff and supporting them through Rugby World Cup 23 is our priority.’’
Reddy defended the NZR’s previous silence on the appointment process, saying: “We are now coming out to make our point clear.
“It is a confidential process, and it will remain confidential from here on it, but we’re not responsible for what other people say in the media.’’
Schmidt will now focus on delivering Rugby World Cup success for the All Blacks in France later this year, although his subsequent exit will deprive them of one of the sharpest minds in world rugby.
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